“Peace
starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace we can be at peace
with those around us.” — His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama,
Sun in Cancer

Before getting started,
Sun Sign Cancer... we both know that we've never seen or read a totally satisfying
description of the Zodiac Sign Cancer. I can't begin to tell you how many
Sun Sign Cancers complain about the how the typical descriptions of Cancer
don't fit them. (I could take a "cheap shot" about nagging and complaining,
but I won't go there.) Sadly, I doubt I'll do much better in my modest attempt
to describe the energies of Cancer. Why?

The Element of
Water

Cancer is located in the
astrological element of Water. Of the four astrological elements (Fire, Earth,
Air, and Water) - Water is the most ancient, primitive, and instinctual. Being
the most primal element, Water is also the element furthest away from rational,
describable, consciousness and thought. Thus, Water energy tends to defy our
meager attempts at coming up with rational explanations and descriptions.

Astrologically, the element
of water is associated with feeling, sensitivity, and emotion. All three Signs
placed in the element of Water (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are rather difficult
to describe and/or measure out their true essence. However... Cancer, ruled
by the mysterious Moon of the night, is perhaps the Water Sign furthest removed
from "light of day" consciousness and description. At least that's
my story (and I'm sticking to it.).

Trivia

Want to know two of the
most fascinating bits of traditional trivia regarding the ancient descriptions
of the Zodiacal Sign Cancer? I thought so... First - believe it or not - none
of the ancient descriptions of Cancer mentioned the words "mother,"
"cooking," or "cleaning" a single time. The second bit
of trivia is that prior to being named the constellation of Cancer, your constellation
was known as "the Asses' Crib." What's that about? (Actually, you can
check out the description of the Cancer constellation to find out the answer
to that.)

Okay... okay... I've stalled
long enough... truth is that I know I'm quite safe in your thoughtful and
caring hands. I never cease to be amazed at how many of you kind Cancer folks
write in to reassure me that I've done a pretty good job. So I'll go ahead
and give this my best shot.

Traditional Characteristics

Nurturing, protective,
tenacious, emotional sensitivity, and valuing strong traditional roots. Cancer
is the archetypal image of the bond between mother and son (as well as the
bond between father and daughter)... Ruled by the ever-changing, but ever
faithful Moon - Cancer reflects the mysterious, continual cycles of nature...
Cancer reflects the ebb and flow of the tides - and, as such, reflects the
ebb and flow of emotions. This varying (ebb and flow) moods of "wild
child" Cancerians are often a puzzlement to everyone around, including
the Cancer Sun who's having the mood.
However, from the very beginning of time, the Moon was seen by our most ancient
ancestors as nurturing and generous - yet paradoxically could likewise be
an undependable, clever, and dangerous trickster. Ouch!

The
Lunar Paradox

To better
demonstrate this trickster Lunar paradox, I think that I'll share a traditional
African folk tale with you:

"Sun
and Moon are real siblings. They played clever tricks on each other. Moon
said to Sun: we want to throw our children into the water. The Sun agreed.
When the agreed upon time came, Moon hid its children, searched for white
pebbles and put them in a sack. Sun, however knew nothing about this and really
did take all of its children and put them in a sack. So they set out on their
way and came to the bank of a river. Moon emptied its pebble filled sack and
emptied it into the river. Thus the Sun was deceived and shook its children
into the river." (Afrikanische Marchen; C. Meinhof)

Luna,
Queen of the Heavens (the Moon), is now always accompanied by her children
(the stars) of the night. The Sun's children became fish, populated the waters,
and now feed humankind.

Emotional Sensitivity
to Surroundings

People with the Sun in
Cancer generally thrive and flourish best when developing an emotional relationship
with their immediate surroundings. Hard cold logic doesn't have the chance
of a proverbial snowflake in a snowstorm when it comes to the energies of
Cancer. This is because Cancer's strong preference is to evaluate everyone
and everything in terms of feelings and values. "How will I feel if I
do that?" "Will I still be able to live with myself if I say that?"

You also tend to show
your feelings more readily than do the other water signs (Scorpio and Pisces)
and so may feel incredibly vulnerable because others seem to have easy access
to your emotional life. This is part of why you may often resort to the infamous
"Crab Sidestep" - in the attempt to hide your highly sensitive nature from
others.

Because of this emotional
sensitivity, the "Crab" is seldom genuinely comfy and cozy when in a wider
and more impersonal social setting, So you may tend to create a small, enclosed
environment (called a home) and honor only a very few select people by allowing
them into your sphere of influence. However, with those powerful Crab pinchers
of yours, once you do allow someone or something into your sphere - you often
experience great difficulty letting go (even when you know you ought to).

This stubborn refusal
of emotionally letting go applies to people, traditions, and possessions.
Remember that piece of kite string you acquired thirty years ago and squirreled
away in the very back of a dresser drawer? Yep, better hang on to that piece
of kite string. You never know when you might need it for something useful...
That rainy day you've been planning for? It might end up being tomorrow. One
never knows about these things, do they?

Your birth Sun is the
hero of your mythic journey through this lifetime. So let your light shine!